[Vision2020] An Avoidable Danger

[Tom Hansen]

>From the July 28, 2008 edition of the Army Times -

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Editorial: An avoidable danger

Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth was killed in Baghdad on Jan. 2 — not on the 
battlefield, but in his barracks. He was the 13th American electrocuted at 
U.S. facilities in the war zone since 2003. 

That they would die when the danger was repeatedly made known to 
contractors and Army officials is an outrage. 

But faulty wiring is an even worse danger than what had been made public. 
According to Army documents obtained by the New York Times, electrical 
problems are the most urgent noncombat safety hazard for soldiers in Iraq. 
>From August 2006 through January 2007 alone, the paper reported, there 
were at least 283 electrical fires at U.S. facilities there. 

The failures are many. Contracting giant KBR has questions to answer about 
faulty wiring and shoddy workmanship. DoD officials have provided little 
oversight. And not until July did Army leaders order electrical 
inspections of all KBR-maintained buildings the newspaper reported. 

Defense Secretary Robert Gates must promptly respond to lawmakers’ demands 
for details on steps being taken to eliminate the problem. 

Congress and the Pentagon must then hold personally accountable those 
officials — both military and contractors — who allowed this danger to 
continue for five years. 

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Do we really want KBR here in Idaho?

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the 
tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." 
 
-- Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr. 


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